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16

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 24, 2014, 10:23:34 AM »

New one came on Monday finalized the electrical today she's up and running, the only thing I'm not crazy about is filling furnace wtf is that all about I guess I'm going to have to tap into the return line for fresh water fill that was crazy over 2 hrs to fill and took a bit to get a good fire but no it's hitting temp and back off the grid..

Glad you got it running. I have the domestic water coil in mine. I tee'd into the water supply line from the water heater and used the bottom port as a fill point. I have 3 sets of hookups.

Thought mine would never fill up with water too. 

I took a funnel with an 2' hose attached to it, shoved it in the overflow port all the way, and added the water treatment that way. Didn't spill anything. 

17

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 23, 2014, 07:52:14 AM »

I checked this site out a few years ago for info on acme but didn't find anything. I was doing a little surfing and ran across this now. I would run far and fast from the acme furnace. I have the 340 model its suppose to heat 8500sqft yea right try 4000sqft and that's feeding it every 5 hours. Plan on replacing the poorly designed seal on the door at least 2 to 3 times a winter and I burn seasoned wood. ( doing it again today 15 degrees out Great!) no way to check the water level other than waiting for it to pour out the back. Tiny door to load wood make sure to split small pieces or you'll be smashing your fingers.  If you do have to burn any green wood prop a ladder up against it cause you will have to run a pipe down the chimney everyday to unplug it from the creosote build up. At least now they come with a solenoid to open and close the blower mine did not so once the gasket goes out it had perfect air flow to constantly boil over on warm days. I've now installed a solenoid and door to close off the blower when not needed. the recovery time is horrible to much water not enough fire. They brag about the air blowing from under like a blacksmith forge what good does that do when the grate only cover less than half the floor so the rest of the wood burns like a normal fireplace. I also have a central boiler 5036 bought it used cant afford new the air blows over the fire what acme says is no good the 5036 is set to come on at 170 off 190 about 20 minute recovery time and 1/4 of a load of wood. The 340 set to come on at 180 off 190 takes a minimum of an hour and a 3/4 load of wood. They talk about how great the ash draw is what a pain the butt. every other day clean it out with a hoe suck the ash in your lungs then use your hand to clean out around the door so it will close then shovel the ash in to the wheel barrow. central boiler every couple weeks take a couple scoops out with a shovel stand up wind an dump it in the wheel barrow no down time like Keith says.
I bought the 340 so I could also heat my shop 3000sqft so a total of 7000sqft and it worked great when it was 50 degrees outside. The first day we hit 13 I feed the stove every hour day and night to try to keep the shop at 32 degrees the stove never shut off once. Cut the line to the shop and blew the water out. Back to working in a cold shop but going to start building my own stove for next year use the acme for a boat anchor. Forgot to mention have never replaced the seal on the central boiler going on 4 years I've had it and 3 years previous owner.
You do get what you pay I don't know how acme figures the sqft that the stoves will heat I imagine its numbers on paper not real life scenarios. I would make sure and figure it half of what they claim unless you would like to feed it every hour me I prefer every 12 with the CB. Talk to your local welder they maybe able to build you one similar to acme but for less money and no shipping.

Sorry you had bad luck with yours. I heat a 3400 + sq. foot home and have the domestic water coil inside the furnace. I get 10 to 12 hours of burn time when it is really cold out, and we use a TON of domestic hot water too. My underground pipes aren't buried as deep as I should have gone, so I think I have some heat loss there. The snow will melt over the pipes I buried first once it gets above freezing.  I will either get a silicone gasket for the door from Portage and Main, or coat the door gasket I already bought with the silicone. My door gasket was toast after burning green wood in it, and creosote built up on the gasket. I haven't had to clean the flue pipe. I like the ash door and have to remove ashes twice a week at the worst. The furnace doesn't (seem) to create anymore ash then my inside wood stove used to. I burn oak in my furnace.

I wouldn't have bought mine if it didn't have the flap with the solenoid that covers the blower when off, and opens the flap when the blower is on. I only "fill" my furnace once a week with water, and it doesn't evaporate water much at all. I just go real slow when adding the water, and do it when the stove is about ready to shut off or has just shut off. I do it when the stove is the hottest to ensure that it is full of water. If you do it when the stove is about ready, or has just come on, it will overflow with water when the water is at its hottest point of the cycle.

If one had the means to build their own furnace, you could incorporate all the good features in each furnace on the market and really have a perfect furnace!

18

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 15, 2014, 03:24:45 PM »

No temp gauge anywhere to begin with.

I used an automotive mechanical gauge. The sender is about 6 foot long. Not long enough to reach the front.

I wanted it in the back anyway so I could see the gauge from a distance.

What did you do to install it? What brand is it ...Can't believe they don't come with any temp gauge

I taped the sender to the supply metal pipe coming out of the furnace. Used silver, aluminum like tape, and insulated it with the silver bubble wrap type insulation. It is a Sunpro mechanical temperature gauge I bought at Autozone. Drilled a 2 1/8" hole in the back left top corner and mounted it there. It reads about 10* too cold, but I use it as a reference anyway.
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19

Acme Furnace Company / Re: New Acme Furnace

« on: January 15, 2014, 03:18:53 PM »

Sizmo, how long can you get on average out of a fill on your 340?

About 12-14 hours.

20

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 12, 2014, 08:50:05 PM »

Sizmo was there a temp gauge in the front.and why did you need one in the back....I'm still waiting going on 4 weeks on Monday seems they are waiting for other furnaces to go on the same trip but it's holding mine up...way to far for me to drive

No temp gauge anywhere to begin with.

I used an automotive mechanical gauge. The sender is about 6 foot long. Not long enough to reach the front.

I wanted it in the back anyway so I could see the gauge from a distance.

21

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 07, 2014, 09:35:15 PM »

Thanks sizmo! I called acme today and talked to Keith's assistant, a very nice informative lady. She gave me some info on their insulated pex pipe they make which I'll be most likely ordering it from them. Sounds like the 235 is a good fit for me. Don't see how I would need the 340. My home is 2700 sq and maybe one day I'll put a shop outback but it will be 24x32 nothing big cause I only have 2 acres.

Darla is a nice lady. Can't beat $4,500 for the 235 model.

22

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 07, 2014, 10:50:54 AM »

I'm glad you guys are posting your reviews about the acme. Their are certainly not enough reviews. I'm from a small town in NJ where I have 4 friends that use a OWB. All of them have wood masters. I do like them but I'm looking at other brands. There's a 3,000$ difference between the two so I'm all about seeing what acme could do for me. From what I gathered, the acme seems to just be plain and simple nothing fancy. It's a big investment so I'm gonna keep doing research. There's a dealer in PA that I would use and most likely go pick up. Thanks guys keep the good and bad coming, great site

There was such a big price difference, it was a no-brainer going with the Acme.

I got to see a Model 235, and 340 at a farm show here in Springfield, MO. So I got to see it with my own eyes, and talk to Keith the owner personally several times.

Waited 2 years before pulling the trigger. Saw my neighbors Taylors, and Hardy's in action and just wasn't impressed. Not to mention they were twice as expensive!! My friend has a Central Boiler and I like his. Again it was twice as expensive!!

So for the money you can't go wrong with the Acme furnace. I'll make the grate less course in the off season. The coals drop thru the grate too easy. Easy fix.

The Acme is not perfect. I'm not going to say it is.

I'm very very pleased with my purchase however!!

23

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: -18 here with -50 windchill. My Heatmaster 10KE is laughing and Im toasty !!

« on: January 07, 2014, 10:29:51 AM »

Cold here in SW Missouri!...

Where ya at sizmo?  Howdy neighbor, I am between Springfield and Joplin.

Billings, MO address

Live between Republic and Billings.

24

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 06, 2014, 08:43:20 PM »

How long have you had it ? I just ordered one from them about 3 weeks now waiting to hear from them any day Darla told me 3 1/2 weeks... Now long did you have to wait

Was about a 3 week wait for mine. Picked it up at the factory around November 15th. I have the model 340. Let me know if you have any questions about the furnace.

I added a switch to the front to shut off the blower, and  a temperature gauge to the back.

25

Acme Furnace Company / Re: I LOVE MY ACME FURANCE

« on: January 06, 2014, 08:40:25 PM »

-10 BELOW  20 MPH WIND HEATED MY HOUSE NICE LAST LIGHT, 18 HOURS OF FILL

I have a Model 340. Which one do you have?

I really like mine too!!

26

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: -18 here with -50 windchill. My Heatmaster 10KE is laughing and Im toasty !!

« on: January 06, 2014, 08:38:04 PM »

Cold here in SW Missouri! minus 12* last night, -10 * now.

My house is a ranch style with a walkout basement 3,400 sq. ft.  Built in 1998 with good insulation.

Toasty 74* inside. My furnace is running about 1/2 of the time, and boiler is doing great set at 165*!

First season with it, and I wish I would have installed it sooner!.

With 340 gallons of water, I have plenty of reserve.

Stay warm my friends!!

27

Acme Furnace Company / Re: New Acme Furnace

« on: December 26, 2013, 12:54:13 PM »

I did have a problem with my solenoid that opens and shuts the flapper to the blower. It quit working a few days after the first firing of the furnace.

I bought the same solenoid from Grainger, and haven't had a problem since and it has been over a month now.

I called Acme furnace and they sent me out another solenoid fast. So now I have a spare.

I wired and mounted a wet location switch box to the front corner trim, so I can switch the blower off when I load the furnace.

I also bought a Sunpro (Automotive) mechanical temperature gauge to monitor the temperature. I taped the sensor to the supply line pipe and insulated and taped the heck out of it. Drilled a 2" hole and mounted the gauge to the back trim next to the removable back panel. The temperature readout is pretty close to my infared heat gun readout. Off by about 7*. I'm using the gauge mostly for a reference anyway.

28

Acme Furnace Company / Re: New Acme Furnace

« on: December 26, 2013, 12:40:50 PM »

dterry,

What is wrong with yours?

Nothings perfect, but I'm very pleased with mine. I installed it myself.

Let me know if there is anything we can help you with.

 

29

Acme Furnace Company / Re: New Acme Furnace

« on: December 23, 2013, 04:54:36 PM »

Thanks a lot, that's great I am using radiant heat and circulating it through the floor and one hanging heater.  I have that part for the shop okay it's the stove it came unwired and I know it has to be a simple wiring job but don't want to make a mistake.

I mounted a two gang junction box to the steel brace that runs horizonally (underneath it) with self tapping screws. Power comes in to an outlet. I made a plug and plugged the fan and solenoid into that (one plug). You could bring both leads to the outlet so it is always hot, and "break" the circuit of the plug on the cord that goes to the blower and solenoid. You bring the "broken" wire to the top terminal of the thermostat. Then connect another wire to the bottom of the thermostat back to the cord of the blower and solenoid. When the thermostat calls for heat, it completes the circuit and the blower and solenoid are energized.  The second side of the box gets power from the outlet terminals and has a light switch which switches on the circulating pump.

I had trouble with the fire going out on warm days when the furnace isn't on much. The trick is to keep coals behind the grate going. I think the grate slats are to big, and in the spring will make them smaller so the coals can't fall thru as easy. I also drilled a small hole in the metal flap that covers the blower so a tiny amount of air can still get thru. Had some warm days since I drilled that hole in the flap, and it works like a champ.

I dented my furnace when I unloaded it, and got replacement tin today. I'm going to mount a switch to the corner trim in the front so I can shut the blower off when I load the furnace.

30

Acme Furnace Company / Re: New Acme Furnace

« on: December 03, 2013, 01:21:08 PM »

If your are happy with this furnace then you are happy with Obama. This furnace should be in hell, at least it would be warm then. Piss poor design, and terrible workmanship. The door sucks, and the grill is way too big. Doesn't allow for a fire to stay in the middle of unit, or a bed of coals. Creosote builds up on the door and sticks it shut, not only that but then drips all over everything once open.
Sucks all the way around

Yes I'll admit the door is a shortcoming. The creosote does build up an the bottom part of my door too. When the temps are warm and the unit doesn't cycle as much, I burn seasoned wood. That helps a ton. When it is colder I'll put some wood in it that hasn't seasoned as much and it is ok. When it doesn't cycle much I burn wood behind the grate and then rake some coals forward if I need to. When it is cold and it cycles alot more, it works fine though.

I have a 340 and the firebox is bigger ( a foot deeper than the 235) so I'm sure that helps too. I have the solenoid that shuts the metal flap to the draft blower, and drilled a small hole in the metal flap to allow just a little air in when idling and that made a huge difference in keeping the coals smoldering. The hole does not make the fire too hot to worry about boiling. I had an issue with the fire going out a couple times and this did the trick for me.

I think for the money, this is an outstanding design and value!! I researched almost all the furnaces, and kept coming back to the Acme furnace.

Mine is well built, and I would recommend it to others. Every furnace has their positives and negatives.